Tester Announces Funds For COVID Testing

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., announced that Montana Rural Health Clinics will receive $5.6 million in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services funding as a result of the American Rescue Plan to increase COVID-19 testing and to further mitigate its effects on rural communities.

Montana is home to 60 rural health clinics across the state — all of which provide life-saving care to underserved rural communities. A total of 56 of these clinics will receive flat payments of $100,000 each through the Health Resources and Services Administration arm of HHS as a direct result of the passage of the American Rescue Plan. Tester is the only member of the Montana delegation to vote in favor of the American Rescue Plan.

“Montana’s Rural Health Clinics are often the only healthcare provider in rural communities, and they were hit especially hard during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Tester said. “As we recover by getting more shots into arms and our economy back on track, it’s imperative that our Rural Health Clinics have the critical resources they need to keep our communities safe, and continue to monitor the spread and transmission of COVID-19. Because of our work on the American Rescue Plan, this funding will help keep communities healthy across Big Sky Country.”

As of April 10, rural vaccination rates lagged behind urban vaccination rates by nearly 7 percent, and rural communities were at an increased risk for severe COVID-19 associated morbidity and mortality, according to the CDC.

All Montanans aged 12 and older are currently eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. According to the CDC, 1,102,395 total doses have been administered in Montana, and 444,216 Montanans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Monday, June 21.

Vaccine appointments at participating clinics, pharmacies, and other locations can be found at vaccines.gov.

The Roosevelt County Health Department is holding COVID-19 vaccine clinics every Thursday from 3-6 p.m. Officials will continue to utilize an appointment system for COVID-19 vaccine distribution throughout the county, to help secure a place: You may use the link https://forms.gle/jUmFB4Z2PEgbwSPT7 to fill out the COVID-19 Vaccine Registration Form or you may call the Roosevelt County Health Department at 406-653-6223.

Individuals who sign up through the registration process can choose from the dates and places that are provided on the registration form.

You will then be contacted prior to the date you have chosen to set up an appointment time between the hours of 3-6 p.m.

At this time, events will be held in Wolf Point at the Roosevelt County Health Department, and in Culbertson at the Roosevelt County Complex Building.

Area Statistics

As of Sunday, June 20, Roosevelt County has two active cases and no current hospitalizations. There have been 56 COVID-related deaths reported in the county.

As of Monday, June 21, Valley County’s active count was zero. There have been 913 total cases and 18 reported COVID-reported deaths.

Daniels County had zero active cases as of Monday, June 21. The county has 189 recovered cases and 197 cumulative cases. Eight deaths have occurred due to COVID-19 and/or complications.

In McCone County, there is no active cases as of Monday, June 21. There are 182 recovered cases. There has been one COVID-related death in the county.

Phillips County has zero active cases as of Monday, June 21. There have been 508 recovered cases and 16 COVID-related deaths.

For Richland County, there are three active cases and 1,227 recovered cases as of Monday, June 21. Total COVID-related deaths are 18. There have been 1,245 total cases.

Statewide

According to Montana health officials, the state’s total number of known cases now stands at 113,225 since the start of the pandemic. There have been 1,429,169 tests conducted.

Around the state, there are 454 active cases. There are 44 active hospitalizations. By Tuesday, June 22, a total of 1,652 deaths have been reported statewide. A total of 111,119 people have recovered.

Though there is no state mask mandate, local jurisdictions may still choose to implement their own mask requirements. Gianforte emphasized how providing incentives and encouraging personal responsibility are more effective than imposing unenforceable government mandates.

Vaccine Doses

In Roosevelt County, 5,759 total doses have been administered. There have been 2,820 or 33 percent fully immunizations.

As of Monday, June 21, 852,515 total doses have been administered in Montana. There are 420,329 or 46 percent fully immunized Montanans.

The dashboard can be found at https://www.arcgis. com/apps/MapSeries/ index.html?appid=7c-34f3412536439491adcc2103421d4b.